It will also allow us to transition out of the rat race easier and always have something to fall back on for income if needed.  

I am not sure why you insist on continuing to beat this dead horse. 

This deal would have put me back in the race to play with the adults. 

My point is that if you don't rent to someone who meets your documented criteria, or if you decline one person with a dog but accept a different one, then you are open to being accused of discriminating on the base of race, sex, etc.

Federally protected classes are limited to: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Familial status, National Origin, or Disability. 

For beginners, we often tend to put the cart before the horse.

The house I live in now was an old burned out shed/horse barn that I remodeled using cash and it has saved me thousands in rent.

@Hattie Dizmond  Is right, us Texans like our space (we need it it for all the imaginary horses everyone seems to think we own lol)! 

AgeDisabilityEqual Pay/CompensationGenetic InformationHarassmentNational OriginPregnancyRace/ColorReligionRetaliationSexSexual Harassment Those are for employment and are not the same as as the fair housing act's protected classes which are:  race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and handicap

That is familial status, color, national origin, disability, race, religion, and sex."